Collator



May 5, 1959 ApfKALISH v2,885,203

Filed Aug'. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DJ TRW n n VMW# W. K .A DM v WHW H J m ,Aw

May 5, 1959 A. D. KALlsH 2,88S,203

COLLATOR I Filed Aug. 15, 195e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARTHUR D. KAUSH,

BYMvA-k/LQL Troie/ver United tates Patent 'COLLATOR Arthur D. Kalish, Miami, Fla.

Application August 13, 1956, Serial No. 603,547

3 Claims. (Cl. 270-58) This invention relates to collators and has particular reference to a machine whereby to simultaneously project a single sheet of multiple groups of numbered pages and whereby the projected sheets may be subsequently accumulated in their numerical order for assembly.

The invention contemplates a cabinet embodying a plurality of compartments wherein is positioned multiple groups of mimeographed or otherwise produced sheets in numerical order and with projection .means that is manually operable to shift and project the uppermost sheet in each compartment whereby the sheets will be disposed in a manner that permits them to be accumulated in their numerical order with a minimum of effort.

The invention further contemplates projection means that are floatingly associated with an actuating device and with the projection means each being provided with a friction head for engagement with the uppermost sheet in each compartment and with the friction being determined primarily by the weight of the projection means so that a single sheet of each group will be projected forwardly of the cabinet as the device is manually operated.

The invention further contemplates novel means whereby the cabinet may function to accommodate either legal or letter size sheets and the projection means and the operating means being substantially identical in each instance.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated the preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a collator constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section tak-en substantially on line 2 2 of Figure l and with parts being illustrated in side elevation,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

vFigure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one projection element and,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a dowel device whereby to divide the several compartments in accordance with the length of sheets to be disposed therein.

Referring specically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a cabinet that is horizontally divided into a plurality of compartments 6 of equal dimensions. The compartment 6 having a transverse Width calculated to receive the conventional letter width of sheets. The compartments are open upon the forward side of the cabinet as illustrated and each compartment has a length calculated to receive the conventional legal size 'sheets of paper. The opposite sides of the rear ends of the compartments 6 are provided with strips 7 that serve to limit the positioning of lthe sheets within the cabinet and it is contemplated, that the sheets shall be substantially co-extensive with the partitions 6a of the compartments. Since the cabinet is adapted to receive and project sheets of printed or multigraphed matter, it is desirable that the device be capable of varying the length of the compartments to accommodate either a letter size or a legal size sheet and whereby the forward ends of the sheets shall be substantially flush with the forward open ends of the compartments. To this end there has been provided in both the top and bottom of the cabinet and the several partitions 6a, preferably cylindrical and vertically aligned openings 8, for the reception of dowel pins 9 carried by a head 10. It will be apparent that when legal size sheets are employed, the dowel device 9 and 10 is removed and the sheets engage within their respective compartments 6 to a point where they engage the abutting or limiting strips 7, such being calculated to be the major depth of the cabinet to accommodate legal sheets. When letter size sheets are to be employed, the dowel device 9 and 10 is inserted through the several openings 8 whereby the dowels 9 form an abutment to limit the movement into the compartments of the letter size sheets. The parts so far described may be of wood, metal or plastic construction.

Means are provided to manually project a single uppermost sheet from all of the groups of sheets to be installed within the several compartments, comprising a slide bar 11 that underlies the lowermost partition 6a and with the slide bar being vguided in a horizontal movement by guide rails 12, securely attached to the underside of the lowermost partition 6a. The bar 11 is limited in its rearward movement by a block 13. The bar 11 projects beyond the forward end of the cabinet and is provided with a lip portion 14 through the medium of which the bar may be manually shifted in a horizontal manner. The bar 11 has a length to project rearwardly of the cabinet 5 and is provided with an upstanding post 15, rigid with respect thereto. Detachably connected with the post 15, as though the medium of eyelets 16, are a plurality of relatively floating sheet projecting means indicated as a whole by the numeral 17. The sheet projecting means is provided for each of the compartments 6. Each of the sheet projecting means, see particularly Figure 5, embodies a horizontal and relatively stiff wire 18 that is bent at its rear end to form a hook 19 that engages the eyelets 16, thus supporting the projection device with respect to the post 15. The wires 18 intermediate their length are bent in a zig-zag manner, as at 20, see Figure 5 and this zig-zag section 20 is cemented in any desirable manner to the upper surface of a preferably sponge rubber pad 21. The wire 18 from the bent portion 20, is projected forwardly a predetermined distance so that in loading the device, and with the bar 11 shifted to its maxi mum forward position, the terminal end portions 22 of the wires will terminate substantially flush with the forward open side of the cabinet to thereby provide a convenient means to lift the rods and the connected pads in order to facilitate the insertion of a group of sheets within the respective compartments after which, the ends 22 are released and the pads and the wires 18 shift downwardly under their own Weight to engage the pads upon the uppermost sheet in each group. Various means may be employed to connect the sponge rubber pads 21 with the wires, although the structure presented has been found very economical to manufacture.

In the use of the device, when the cabinet is to be loaded with groups of numbered sheets that are subsequently assembled in numerical order, the operato-r proceeds to shift the bar 11 forwardly to dispose the ends 22 adjacent the open side of the cabinet. The cabinet may vbe loaded beginning with the lowermost compart-` dismay" i laissa beginning' at the `tippermtitst compartiment.` Assuming that the loading is to be started i in theuppermost compartment, all of the group of sheets i numbered one are :engagedwithinitheuppermostcomi partaient bytirstliftingithe,` proiectiondevoe 1T and sliding group of sheetsinto thecompartment, after `which thelproiectiondevice'is releasedandpermitsthe hito rest `upon the `uppermost sheet ofthe groupV `sheetsvliaviiztbeen installed within `their respective 'coin` l i the l1 is shifted rearwardly causing :the pads y21 tosiide overzthe surface of theuppermost sheet i to nhs rearward positioning of; the posttlS.

Thbimrward sliding movement ofithe post, the bar 11 `anti Ihepada 21` will cause no disassembly of the several abeet naines the rear ends of theisheets'iwill have an abuttingaigagement withithe strips 7. i Now, `when the iin the compartments are to be assembled or eumulalledin numerical order, the operator slides the bar forwardly by the lip portion 14, imparting a friction` drag upon `the uppermost sheet of each group and causing Jr'l'hel t sheets,beingofexiblenature, will `bemin wnwardly, as indicated at dotted `in Figure Zilndtheoperatorwthen manuallytgrasps thereinA f Minot t the `slitte/tsarid` pulls `their remaining portheirteompartmenmhthus easily `sunniti:stiltsrissa in una numerators i nettime subsstlusntziatapling or binding.` As beforepointedout, cabinet `:is adapted to normally te legal :that extend from the forward open endofthe landoatinglysupport the wires Il sowas ittnenceof the pads 21 tothe extent only of the weight ofthe device, which weightkhas been calculated tobe engagement to the sheetsiunder the man nppsrmostti-sheetineaeht-group and wherebyto each group forwardly of the cabinet for manual accumulation in theirnumericalorder and a divider device that is extended through thescvcralgcompartments and where by to divide the compartments `to accommodate either legal `or letter size sheets,the `siiid post being provided with a plurality of open screws eyes.v each of the elements at their rear ends being bent to form hooks that detachably engage the eyes and whereby the elements and their pads oatingly restl upon the uppermost sheet in each compartment, the'` br"at its forward end being provided with a lip portion whereby to manually shift the bar and associatedelements to and from their operative positions and means carried by the `bar whereby to limit the rearwardsliding movement thereof.`

2. `A oollator whereby to project and accumulate multiple sheets'innumerically numbered order, comprising a cabinet open at its forward end andwith` the cabinet beinghorizontally partitioned `to form a plurality of` substantially identically dimensioned `horizontally arranged `compartments for the reception of groups of `numbered i sheets,` the cabinet being: partially closedfat its rear end to limit the insertions of the sheets, a slide barsupported `beneath the cabinet andi projecting `both forwardlyand rearwardly of the cabinet, the `bar atiits rearextreinity beingprovidsd with an upstsnding rigid post, sheet proi iecting elements oatingly and detachably connected with the post and `with the elements extending forwardlyinto the several compartments, friction pads carried byithe elementsand with the pads having a resting engagement upon an uppermost sheet in each `group and whereby to frictionally engage the uppermostsheet, the saidislide t when shifted forwardly causing i the several elements `and theiripads to frictionallyproiect the uppermost sheet of `eachgroup forwardly of; :thecabinettfor manual' ao- Itlwilllbe apparent fromithe foregoingthat avery simpleand economical form `of oollator has `beencprovided. `'llie device iis simplein construction, is strong, durablewand mostefiectiveas a means to `accumulate `in numericslzorder a groupuof printed sheets that areto be assemhledzinnumerical order. `1 l i It is to `be understood that the invention is not limited to the precisevarrangement shown, but that changes are readily fall within the spirit of the inventionlaa shallbe; determinedfbythe of the submy invention, what! lnddsairelo secure by Letters Ratent is:` i 4 l. A whereby to proiectand accumulateniultiplofllteatsin numerically numbered order, :comprising staatssteun i its forward endsnswiia maestrias:

the post with the elements extending forwardly `into the several compartments, Afriction padscarried by` the elements and with the pads having a resting engagement n iloatingly `anclfdeta/chahly connected with i,

stimulation in their numerical order and adivider device that `is extended `through the several compartments and wherebylto divide :the compartments to `accommodate eitherlegaluor lettervsize` sheets, Ieach of ithe elements comprising a sectionof relatively sti wire that islbent to hook form `at its rear extremity, a plurality .of connecting eyelets carried by the postand whereby to receive theihoolts, theiwires intermediate their length being bent to a zig-zaglshape1 for supporting and cementing engage ment withuthe upper surface of: the pads, the wire being extended beyond `thewzig-ztig bending to form laflifting end and whereby the elements may befbodilyraised to insert the respective groups of sheets: beneath thepads.

3 A oollator` whereby to project and: accumulate multiple sheets `in numerically numbered order, comprising a cabinet open at its` forward end and with the cabinet `beitg horizontally partitioned to formfa plurality lof substantially identically` dimensioned horizontally arranged compartments for the reception of groups of numbered sheets, thecabinet beingupartially closed at its cndi to limit the .insertions of the sheets, `a slide bar supported zbeneath the :cabinet and projecting forwardly' and rearwardly i of the cabinet, `the bar,` at" its rear extremity being provided with an upstanding irigid post, sheetproiecting elements tloatingly and detaclisbly with` the i post `and with. the elementsl `ei'tteiiding lforwardly ntovthe :several compartments; frictiontpads carried by the elements andiwithithe pads havingaiiresting engagement upon `anuppermost sheet in eachgrou'p and whereby tot frictionallywcngage the uppermost'fsheet, the said `slide when shifteduforwardly causingthe several elements and their pads tolfrictionally project theuppermost sheet `of each group forwardly: of the cabinet for manuall accumulationinrthcr `numerical 'ordcr and a divider device thatis extendedtthrough theiseveral compartments and whereby to divide the compartments;` to accommodate either legalor` letter size sheets, theseweral compartments being dimensioned to receive sheets of legal size, the cabinet and the partition being vertically apertured inwardly from their sides and with the several apertures being in Vertical alignment, a pair of spaced apart dowels that are connected by a head bar and with the spacing of the dowels corresponding to the spacing of the apertures, the apertures being inwardly spaced from the rear of the cabinet, the apertures adapted to receive the dowels and whereby the dowels form a divider for the compartments to thereby dimension the compartment to receive sheets of letter size.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Marcuson Aug. 12, 1924 Warner Nov. 19, 1940 Thomas Apr. 30, 1946 Hernblad June 10, 1952 Dixon Jan. 6, 1953 Magarinos Nov. 13, 1956 

